Date: Fri 28-Mar-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Council-budget

Full Text:

Council Hopes Budget Plan Is Light Enough To Fly

BY STEVE BIGHAM

The taxpayers of Newtown will go to the polls later this spring to vote on a

proposed budget that shows an overall increase of 4.2 percent.

But Legislative Council members will tell you that the "inflation-rate"

increase (up 1 mill to 27 mills) is actually yielding twice as much in

benefits.

"I think the taxpayers should feel very good that they're getting a lot for a

little in a tax increase," said John Kortze, the council's finance committee

chairman.

Through financing and with the help of increased revenues, the town and

schools will receive nearly all of what they have requested, but at a price

that town officials hope will be considered reasonable by voters.

The overall proposed budget for 1998-99 is $57 million. Of that figure, $32

million will fund the schools. The education budget is up 7.4 percent. The

school board originally requested a 10.1 percent increase, but that got wiped

out when the council cut $800,000 earlier this month, much to the

disappointment of school supporters.

Since then, however, the finance committee appears to have hammered out a deal

with the Board of Education that will help the schools realize their needs

without increasing the bottom line. The two boards agreed to lease $400,000

worth of technology equipment and fund $125,000 in site improvements through

the capital and non-recurring expense account (See related story). In short,

say finance committee members, the school board is realizing a 9.1 percent

increase over the current budget.

"They asked us for new teachers, increased salaries, technology and site

improvements. The package we hammered out addresses everything they asked

for," Mr Kortze said.

So how much will the average resident's taxes go up? A home assessed at

$200,000 can expect to pay an additional $200 in taxes.

(A complete breakdown of the proposed budget appears on page A11 this week.)

Good Year For Revenue

A one mill increase seemed like a pipe dream a couple of months ago when a

proposed overall budget made its way toward the council showing an increase of

about 3 mills -- far too high in the minds of the council members.

Fortunately for Newtown, this was an outstanding year for revenue. Last month

assessor Denise Hames reported a grand-list increase of $70 million, which

will bring in an additional $1.8 million in revenue. The town also expects to

pick up some money through the sale of tax liens.

"Given the increases that were requested, the only way we could provide all

this was to find revenues," Mr Kortze said.

It seems the town is always expecting large expenditures in the future, and

this year is no different. There remains the possibility that Newtown may have

to build a new elementary school sometime in the near future, and the town has

some very serious municipal office-space needs. Nevertheless, the council

believes it has financially prepared the town for the coming years.

"We've been able to keep the town on good fiscal footing, have an

inflation-like increase, and still keep the town on track," Mr Kortze said.

First Selectmen Herb Rosenthal has proposed a general government budget of

$25.1 million, an increase of $700,000 or 3.2 percent.

"I think that in view of all the pressures we have with increased new homes

and the need for increased services, it's not an unreasonable increase," Mr

Rosenthal said.